Paperboard container



March 16, 1965 J. J. AUST ETAL PAPERBOARD CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1965 FIG.

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R W mTS UU VAL n m u u 4 m G TL D. m@ m March 16, 1965 J. J. AUST ETAL 3,173,596

PAPERBOARD CONTAINER Filed Nov. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN J. AUST BY RALPH G, GULUKSON M/ WA ATTOQN EYS United States Patent M 3,1735% PAPERBUARD CONTAINER John 5. Aust and Ralph G. Gullikson, Toledo, ()hio,

assignors to Owens-llllnois Glass Company, acorporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,573 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-22) This invention relates to a paperboard container, and more particularly to a foldable paperboard container that is novelly adapted to enclose a portable metal keg containing a liquid in dispensable fashion.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of a paperboard container that is erected from a uniquely contoured one-piece blank that involves a minimum of waste material. The blank, by reason of its novel design, is erectable into a clam shell like container which is capable of ready and easy opening to provide complete access to the contents of the container. This feature is desirable from the standpoint of the ultimate user and the packager; the latter because this permits the con- .tainer to be loaded and unloaded by automatic machinery.

Other features of the invention are the provision of a container that interlocks in a simple [and efficient manner that permits it to be opened, filled and closed by automatic machinery.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a container having integral, sturdy gripping means to permit carrying by the ultimate user or consumer.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a novel blank design in terms of the configuration, location of slots, scores, cutouts, etc., whereby it is ideally adapted to accomplish the foregoing desirable objects.

Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings on which there is presented, for purpose of illustration only, a single embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container blank of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container of this invention partly erected from the blank shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of this invention fully erected but in open position.

FIG. 4 .is a perspective view showing the container of this invention with the contents, e.g., a beer keg, in place.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the container of this invention showing it in a partially closed position.

FIG. 6 is .a perspective view of the container of this invention in the closed position.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. .6, showing the interlocking means of this container.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 6, showing the manual gripping means of this container.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container blank 1%? of this invention is formed of any suitable sheet-like material that is foldable, e.g., including semi-rigid plastic. The preferred material is a paperboard material of the type commonly referred to in the trade as solid-fiberboard. Where this container is intended for reuse, it is preferably given a protective coating, such as an extrusion coating of polyethylene, to give it added scuff-resistance and water resistance.

The blank 19 of this invention is scored and slotted to form a series of foldably connected panels, which will 3,173,595 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 be described in detail below. In FIG. 1, the score lines are represented by broken lines. Also, inasmuch as the blank is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, like numbers are used to designate like scores and panels.

On the blank 10, a pair of parallel, spaced apart, score lines 11 and 11a define the lateral edges of serially connected panels 12, 13, 14 and 15. The aforementioned panels are foldably connected along score lines 16, 17 and 13. These four panels comprise the main body panels of the container.

The outer two panels 12 and 15 .of the series of four are provided with U-shaped slits 19 and 20, respectively. These slits 19 and 20 are joined at their outer free ends by score lines 21 and 22, respectively. These slits and score lines cooperate to form finger admitting apertures and handle flaps 23 and 24.

Each of the panels 12, 13, 14 and 15 has attached to its lateral edges a pair of end panels 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively. These end panels are foldably connected totheir respective body panels along score lines 11 and 11a. The end panels 25, 26, 27 and 28 at both ends of body panels 12, 13, 14 and 15 are bisected by diagonal score lines 29, 30, 31 and 32, respectively, to form triangular halves A and B, which are relatively foldable. The A portion of the panels in each case designates that triangular portion which has for one side the fold line 11 or 11a. Because in its preferred embodiment the container of this invention has a square cross-section, each of the end panels is also square and the diagonal score lines extend from the score lines 11 and 11a at a 45 angle to the outer :free edges of the end panels. It is to be noted that the four diagonal score lines in adjacent end panels are oppositely inclined and, in fact, perpendicular in this case, where the end panels are square.

The end panels are individually foldable since they are separated from each other by cuts 40 which are in line with the fold lines 16, 17 and 18. The score lines 29 and 32 are also preferably cut on the under surface of the blank since the A and B halves of end panel-s 25 and 28 are reversely folded in the erection of the container as will be described.

A pair of spaced apart locking tabs 33 are foldably attached along score lines 34- to the main body panel 12. Attached to the opposite body panel 15, along score line 35, is an outer reinforcing panel 36. A die cut aperture 37 is formed in the outer panel 35. The die cut aperture is of the same size and configuration as that which is defined by the U-shaped slit 20. When the outer panel 36 is folded about fold line 35 and into facing relationship with panel 15, the two apertures 37 and 20 are in registry.

The blank further includes corner lock panels 41 foldably attached to end panels 28 and separated therefrom by fold lines 42 which are extensions of fold lines 35. The lock panels 41 are also separated from end wall panels 28 by slits 43 which are in line with fold lines 42. Irregular die cuts 44 define one edge of the corner lock panels 41 and also lateral edges of the reinforcing panel 36. The die cuts 44- are symmetrical and of reverse hand contour. They proceed from free edge 45 parallel to fold lines 11 and H51, thence at right angles toward the longitudinal axis of the blank, thence at right angles resuming the former direction, thence angularly outwardly to cross fold lines 35' and terminate at fold lines 11 or 11a in alignment with score line 32. Rectangular notches 46 are cut in the end edge 45 in each of the corner lock panels 41. Parallel fold score lines 47 and 48 are impressed on the corner lock panel on either side of the notches 46 to divide the corner lock panels 41 into relatively foldable segments 50, 51 and 52. The cuts 44, which terminate at fold lines 11 and 11a, and the fold lines 47 and 48 in partdefine the I ser'ted therebeneath and resting on panel 14.

Segments 50 of the corner lock panel 41. As will be explained, this segment and the like segment 50 in the other corner lock panel ultimately serves as a deflector guide for the tabs 33 foldably attached to'panel 12. The tabs 33 are spaced apart a distance as to provide clearan'cefor the hand hold or finger hold apertures defined by the cuts 19 and 20 in panel 12, the aperture 37 in panel 36 and the notches 46 in corner panels 41; V

The centainer blank is erected into the ultimate congainer 1n accordance with the procedure in part illustrated 1n FIGS. 2 and 3 and as described hereinbelow. Panel 12 is folded about score 16 into perpendicular relationship with panel 13. End panels 25 are then folded nortrial to panel 12 with the B portion also folded inwardly into flush relationship with the A portion to form a triangular double thickness end wall as shown. Then immediately the end panels 26 are folded up with the A portion outside flush against A of panel 25, while the B portion of T6 is folded over about fold line'3t) to the inside 6f the carton and flush against B of panel 25.

. 4 'When the tabs 33 are fully inserted as described, the

carton is in the closedposition, whereupon the lock flaps tact (FIG. 7), creating a firm dependable grip for the fingers ofthe user, inserted either, through the cut 19 in panel 12 .or cut in panel 15; aperture. 37 in panel 36 and notches 46, as described hereinabove. When carried in this fashion, the carton-cannot-open' accidently by reason of thefeatures of construction as described. On the other hand, once it has been set down, the carton is easily opened by exerting a slight amount of pulling on the half H-,-1. On opening, the carton assumes the position shown in FIG. 4,ready for removal of the empty keg, for example, and insertion of a filled keg. The carton, by reason of the tabs 33, deflectors 50 and pocket spaces for the tabs, is very amenable to machine manipulation and such constitutes one of the very desirable features of the container of this invention. I

Stitching or stapling is employed to secure the thus formed four thickness end panels. This completes formationof half of the carton. flat against the ground or table, panel 15 is folded up about fold score 18 into vertical upstanding relationship,

while panel 36 is folded down inside about fold line 35 .ness triangular end wall. At the same time, the. con- Next, with panels 12 and 14 lying nected corner lock panel 41 is folded about 42 into flush contact with panel 36, which was previously folded flush with panel 15, making three thicknesses, e.g., 15, 36 and V spaces 65 5 between panel portion 51 and panel 5 for receiving tabs 33. Panel 27 (on the left in FIG. 2) is then'brought up and over, as designated by the arrow, folded about fold 31 to bring B portion flush with B of panel 28. The triangular segments A and Bof panels 27 28 thus yield four thickness walls.

The same procedure is followed with respect to end panels 28, 41 and 37, shown extended to the right in FIG. 2, whereupon stitching or stapling is employed to secure the completed carton together. The completed carton is shown in FIG. 3 in the open position for reception of contents;in this case, a metalbeer keg K (FIG. 4). The container is closed by simply folding the two halves -H1 and H-2 about fold line 17. First, however, the segment 52 of end corner panel 41 is folded upwardly as shown in FIG. 4, whereupon the barrel orkeg K is in- Half 'H-l is then pivoted about fold '17 upwards and over to the right (FIG; 5). The tabs 33 are guided by the deflector segments 50. into the slot pockets or spaces between segments 51 of panels 41 and the reinforcing panel36 (see FIG. 8 for sectional view of the relationship as assem- 7 bled). The position of the segments or portions 52 of panel-41 in the completed carton or container with the keg K in place (FIG. '5) is provided by the complete foldability thereof as determined by the slots 43 and fold 48.

This is desired since, in the position as shown, the seg- ,ments 52 serve as dust and dirt shields, protecting the circular endwalls of the drum from contact with any dust or dirt which may enter through the finger apertures 19 or 20. Were it not for this feature, the filling and dispensing components (not shown) mounted in the circular end walls of the keg might become contaminated, blocked cuts .19. and .20,

The staple 1 time and expense. S, the rear portions of which are shown in FIG. 6, serve viewed in FIG. 1 and the area of board defined by this rectangular contour is very efiiciently utilized, e.g., little or no waste is involved. I I

' Referenceto FIG. 6 discloses one manner of placement of staples 80 which has" been found to accomplish the maximum in holding with'respect to the end panels with a minimum of applied staples, thereby reducing the setup As indicated hereinabove, the staples an important holding function in terms of the closure tabs 33. i r

' Modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined'in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. "A one-piece blank formed of relatively stiff sheet material, said blank being erectable into a shell container for a cylindrical object, said blank being'cut and scored -to define four serially "connected, relatively foldable, wall panels, independently foldable endywall panels foldably connected to eachend of said wall panels, each end panel having a generally diagonalscore line, the'first and fourth panels having U-shaped cuts defining a swingable flap and an aperture for fingers, apair of spaced closure tabs foldably extending from; the first of the serially connected panels, a reinforcing panel extending foldably from the I fourth of the endmost wall panel, said latter panel having an aperture located or registering relationship with the aperture in the fourth of the serially connected panels when the reinforcingpanel is placed in flush relationship therewith, corner panel members located on each side of said reinforcing panel but separated by a die cut, said corner panels being foldably connected to the adjacent end wall panels and in part separated from the adjacent end wall panels by slots, said corner panels each having a notch inthe outer free edge, .said notches, being located in a position as will provide registration with the aperture in the reinforcing panel in its folded over flush'position,

. as said corner panel is folded flushly against the reinforcing panel as the adjacent end panel is folded into triangular configuration about its diagonalscore line.

2. A one-piece blank formed of relatively stiff sheet .material, said blank being cut and scored to define four serially connected wall panels separated by score fold lines, independently foldable end wall panels foldably connected toeach end of said wall panels, each end panel having a generally diagonal score line, said diagonal first of the serially connected panels, a reinforcing panel extending foldably from the fourth of the endrnost wall panel, said latter panel having an aperture located for registering relationship with the aperture in the fourth of the serially connected panels when the reinforcing panel is placed in flush relationship therewith, corner panel members located on each side of said reinforcing panel but separated by a die cut, said corner panels being foldably connected to the adjacent end wall panels and in part separated from the adjacent end wall panels by slots, said corner panels each having a notch in the outer free edge and a pair of parallel fold lines on either side thereof, dividing the corner panel into three relatively foldable segments, said notches being located for registration thereof with the aperture in the reinforcing panel in its folded over flush position, as said corner panel is folded flushly against the reinforcing panel as the adjacent end panel is folded into triangular configuration about its diagonal score line.

3. A one-piece blank formable into a clam shell-like carton with integral closure and locking arrangements, said blank being formed of relatively stiff, sheet-like material, said blank including four foldably connected body panels in side-by-side relationship, end wall panels integrally but foldably connected to opposite ends of said body panels, said end wall panels being separated from adjacent end wall panels by a full thickness out, each end wall panel bearing a diagonal score fold line inclined oppositely from the diagonal in the next adjacent end wall panel, a reinforcing panel foldably connected to one of the endmost of said body panels and separated by a fold line parallel to those separating the four body panels, corner panels foldably connected to adjacent end wall panels and separated in part by a score fold line and in part by a slit in line with the score fold line, said reinforcing panel and corner panels being foldable into flush relationship with the endrnost adjacent panel, said end wall panels attached to each pair of adjacent body panels being foldable about said diagonals into four thickness end walls of triangular configuration as said body panels are folded into perpendicular relationship to thereby de fine carton halves foldable about the fold line separating the two middlemost of said body panels.

4. A one-piece blank formed of relatively stiif sheet material, said blank being erectable into a shell container for a cylindrical object, said blank being cut and scored to define four serially connected wall panels separated by score fold lines, independently foldable end wall panels foldably connected to each end of said wall panels, each end panel having a generally diagonal score line, a reinforcing panel connected to one of the endrnost of said wall panels and separated by a score fold line permitting face-to-face relationship between said reinforcing panel and connected wall panel, provisions for hand hold apertures in the first and fourth wall panels and also in the reinforcing panel, corner panels proximate said reinforcing panels foldably secured to the end wall panels adjacent thereto and separated therefrom by fold lines and slots in alignment with the score fold line separating the reinforcing panel and the adjacent wall panel and spaced closure tabs extending from the first wall panel at the other end of the series from the one to which the reinforcing panel is attached, said corner panels having cut facing edges which define deflector guide elements for said closure tabs when the container is erected and ready for closure.

5. A container formed of one piece of relatively stilf, sheet-like material, scored and cut to lend relative foldability to the panels defined thereby, said container comprising an enclosure formed of four principal body panels connected together in series and eight end wall panels, each of the endrnost pair of body panels being held in perpendicular relationship while the associated end wall panels are individually folded into triangular configuration, one of the latter embracing the other at each end to define four thickness triangular end walls at each end of the endrnost pairs, said endrnost pairs and their associated end walls being collectively foldable about a score fold line separating the second and third of said connected body panels, said fourth body panel including three thicknesses of said material, spaced closure tabs extending foidably from the first of said body panels, a pair of deflector flaps extending foldably from the innermost of said three thicknesses, said fourth panel of three thicknesses including spaced openings for flushiy receiving said closure tabs, said first and fourth panels, including all thicknesses of the latter, being provided with suitable cutouts located for proximate accessibility by the fingers of the user in carrying same.

6. A container of relatively stiff sheet material formed of two generally similar carton halves connected by a fold line, each half being composed of two normally positioned body panels of generally rectangular configuration, the ends of which half are completed by a four thickness integral end wall of triangular configuration, said halves being in such relationship that the hypotenuse of said end panels terminate proximate the fold line connection between said halves, whereby said halves are adapted to closing foldability about said fold line to bring the hypotenuse edges of each pair of said end walls into flush relationship together with the edges of said connecting body panel, said body panels having finger apertures proximate the closure edges and connected flaps which are adapted 'to assume overlapping relationship when pushed inwardly, providing firm gripping of the container by the user.

7. A container as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the body panels includes an integrally connected dust deflector panel located proximately above said finger apertures in the carrying position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ONE-PIECE BLANK FORMED OF RELATIVELY STIFF SHEET MATERIAL, SAID BLANK BEING ERECTABLE INTO A SHELL CONTAINER FOR A CYLINDRICAL OBJECT, SAID BLANK BEING CUT AND SCORED TO DEFINE FOUR SERIALLY CONNECTED, RELATIVELY FOLDABLE, WALL PANELS, INDEPENDENTLY FOLDABLE END WALL PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO EACH END OF SAID WALL PANELS, EACH END PANEL HAVING A GENERALLY DIAGONAL SCORE LINE, THE FIRST AND FOURTH PANELS HAVING U-SHAPED CUTS DEFINING A SWINGABLE FLAP AND AN APERTURE FOR FINGERS, A PAIR OF SPACED CLOSURE TABS FOLDABLY EXTENDING FROM THE FIRST OF THE SERIALLY CONNECTED PANELS, A REINFORCING PANEL EXTENDING FOLDABLY FROM THE FOURTH OF THE ENDMOST WALL PANEL, SAID LATTER PANEL HAVING AN APERTURE LOCATED OR REGISTERING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE APERTURE IN THE FOURTH OF THE SERIALLY CONNECTED PANELS WHEN THE REINFORCING PANEL IS PLACED IN FLUSH RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, CORNER PANEL MEMBERS LOCATED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID REINFORCING PANEL BUT SEPARATED BY A DIE CUT, SAID CORNER PANELS BEING FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE ADJACENT END WALL PANELS AND IN PART SEPARATED FROM THE ADJACENT END WALL PANELS BY SLOTS, SAID CORNER PANELS EACH HAVING A NOTCH IN THE OUTER FREE EDGE, SAID NOTCHES BEING LOCATED IN A POSITION AS WILL PROVIDE REGISTRATION WITH THE APERTURE IN THE REINFORCING PANEL IN ITS FOLDED OVER FLUSH POSITION, AS SAID CORNER PANEL IS FOLDED FLUSHLY AGAINST THE REINFORCING PANEL AS THE ADJACENT END PANEL IS FOLDED INTO TRIANGULAR CONFIGURATION ABOUT ITS DIAGONAL SCORE LINE. 